Agricultural scenario of Nepal: Performance and SWOT analysis

This study aimed to determine the performance of agriculture sector of Nepal which would help in formulating policies and regulations for the growth of this sector. Based on 20 years’ trend data from 2001-02 to 2020-21, the growth and instability of different crops, livestock population and products were calculated by dividing the selected time in two periods i.e., period-I (2001-02 to 2010-11) and period-II (2011-12 to 2020-21). The study showed that the growth of production of almost all the crops increased during the period-II. Oilseeds showed the highest increase in production with growth rate of 6.26% whereas millet and coffee showed decreasing rate of production in the period-II. The area under wheat and millet decreased drastically in period-II. Highest transition in production was seen in coffee as it reduced from 10.04% in period-I to -3.68% in period-II. Although instability in area increased in period-II for almost all the crops, tea experienced highest increase. Instability in coffee production decreased from 41.85% in period-I to 15.92% in period-II which was still the highest among selected crops. The instabilities in production were due to natural calamities, lesser and untimely availability of inputs, less priority in the research sector for minor crops and so on. Livestock subsector has been performing well as compared to the crop sector. Prioritization by the government and wide climatic conditions are the major strengths of the sector whereas unavailability of inputs in time and lack of investment frameworks are the weaknesses. Farm mechanization, topography and agri-tourism are some opportunities and climate change, fragmentation of arable land, brain-drain etc. are the threats to this sector in Nepal.